Hi everyone and welcome back to Wingham after what feels like the longest year ever! There have been lots of changes in the park since everyone has been away; we have been kept busy with new species, sprucing up enclosures and building lots of new enrichment.
We’ve also welcomed a fair few new keepers into the Wingham family too, myself included and the Primate Team in particular has almost completely changed so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to us all and give you a brief insight into our backgrounds and what makes us tick. We are the biggest team in the park with some of the biggest personalities who can stomach some of the smelliest, grossest jobs in the zoo and can still smile after a day of being spat at by the chimps or pooped on by a marmoset!
George – Head of Primates
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? I’ve been at Wingham for 7 months now and spent 8 years as a gorilla keeper previously.
Favourite animal to work with? The tamarins and marmosets. And the chimps. And the bushbabies. And the howlers. (its too hard to pick one!)
Least favourite job on section? Washing up as its never ending!
Dream job? A gin connoisseur.
Jenny – Senior Keeper
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? Almost 3 years here and interning and volunteering at another park before.
Favourite animal to work with? Elizabeth the Chimp.
Least favourite job on section? Wood chipping enclosures.
Dream job? To work in an animal rescue centre somewhere hot.
Shiv
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? 10 years! Started with Birds and Mammals and have been working with the primate section for 2 and half years. Life before Wingham, Shiv worked in a toy shop.
Favourite animal to work with? Orangutans and Lucas the Chimp.
Least favourite job on section? Feeding out locusts and cockroaches.
Dream job? Science teacher.
Jess L
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? 4 years; 2 and a half years volunteering and working in the café and about 18 months as a primate keeper, before that Jess was at school!
Favourite animal to work with? The gibbons and squirrel monkeys.
Least favourite job on section? Changing the bins around the park.
Dream job? To do something in primate conservation.
Jess H
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? 3 years as a cover keeper here and at Sandwich Wildlife Park and moved permanently onto the primate section a few months ago. Before that, Jess was an Intern at Paradise Wildlife Park.
Favourite animal to work with? The chimps.
Least favourite job on section? Changing the rubbish bins.
Dream job? Professional cake tester!
Dulce
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? 4 months at Wingham and before Dulce volunteered with primates in Spain and Holland.
Favourite animal to work with? Chimpanzees.
Least favourite job on section? Cleaning the mandrills’ enclosure.
Dream job? A bison ranger in Canada!
Emma
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? 3 months. Emma came from Longleat Safari Park where she worked with gorillas, sea lions and pelicans for 3 years.
Favourite animal to work with? The Howler monkeys.
Least favourite job on section? The Macaque clean.
Dream job? Marine Mammal Conservationist.
Becky
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? 9 months as a cover keeper, mainly on Birds and Reptiles but have been monkeying around on primates for a month or so now. Before that, Becky worked in retail.
Favourite animal to work with? The Black Tailed Marmosets, Billy and Eve.
Least favourite job on section? The Mandrill clean.
Dream job? To work with rescued bears.
Sarah
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? Sarah has been with us for 6 months now, following working with primates and small mammals at Noah’s Ark Zoo.
Favourite animal to work with? Beleyan the Orang.
Least favourite job on section? Another one who hates the Mandrill clean!
Dream job? To work with Great Apes in Africa.
Luke
How long have you been at WWP and what were you doing before? Luke is our newest member of primates and started as an Intern just 2 weeks ago! He is here on a placement from Manchester Metropolitan Uni where he is currently studying a Masters in Zoo Conservation Biology.
Favourite animal to work with? Edgar the Emperor Tamarin.
Least favourite job on section? The Mandrill clean.
Dream job? To travel to Scandinavia and Africa for conservation work.
So that is us. We are a friendly bunch, most of the time, so do say hello or even ask for us for our favourite monkey moment and we look forward to seeing you back again soon ????.
